The State of Music
Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Tribune
It is perhaps a now well-known saying that music is a "universal language," but indeed great music transcends borders and societies, connecting people of greatly disparate backgrounds. Joseph Haydn, a largely self-taught composer and son of a poor wheelwright in rural Austria, would find a patron in Prince Anton Esterhazy, one of the most powerful of the noble families in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The power of music has created many such connections throughout music history. For Korean-American violinist David Park, his passion for music has likewise given him opportunities to meet many influential and important world leaders.
David Park with Gov. Huntsman and his family at the gala rehearsal
Mr. Park recently had the great privilege to meet the newly appointed US Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr, and collaborated with his pianist daughter, Mary Anne Huntsman, for a gala concert in Salt Lake City. Ambassador Huntsman, is not only a patron of the arts, but is himself a talented pianist. Before his current post, Gov. Huntsman served in several ambassadorial positions in Asia. This made for a wonderful interaction between the two. Mr. Park said of their first meeting, "I especially enjoyed our discussion because he loves Korean food so much that he even went to the kimchee museum in South Korea!"
But this was hardly the first time that Mr. Park had the opportunity to mingle with high-caliber politicians. His first such musical encounter was at the age of 15 when the South Korean president, Chun Doo Hwan, visited Los Angeles. A young David Park was asked to perform for the occasion. After settling in Utah, several more such events would call for his musical talents. In 1996 Margaret Thatcher was invited to Salt Lake City, and again Mr Park had the chance to share his music. Also in attendance that evening was world-renowned philanthropist, Jon Huntsman Sr. This chance meeting would in turn lead to the collaboration with Ambassador Huntsman and his daughter many years later.
Music has not only allowed Mr Park the opportunity to meet and perform for political figures, but also to indulge in his passion for food and wine. In 2011 Mr. Park was invited to perform at the historic Chateau Branaire Ducru in Bordeaux, France. Deeply impressed, the chateau's owner, Patrick Maroteaux, extended an invitation to become a member of the prestigious wine society Commanderie du Bontemps de Medoc et des Graves (For more information, click here).
"It was a great honor for me to be in a wine society that has celebrity members such as Hugh Grant, Jackie Chan, and Placido Domingo. Through the years of being a member of this Commanderie, I've encountered some European aristocrats, as well...At a formal dinner party hosted by the major Japanese company Suntory, at Chateau Lagrange, it was a great honor to meet Baron Eric de Rothschild, who owns the legendary Chateau Lafite Rothschild. We had a fascinating conversation with regards to wine and the violin - he was very interested in the mystery of the Stradivarius." This mutual love of music and wine has also brought close associations with Princes Robert and Felix of Luxembourg, the latter himself a talented cellist.
For David Park, music has given him the opportunity to meet some of the notable figures in politics, wine, and the culinary world. "I feel music has played an important role for me as a person. By interacting with the community and its leaders, I feel I can enrich myself as a musician and find the seat of my soul."
-Wolfgang Jaeger, University of Utah School of Fine Arts
